Rio 2016: Team USA Basketball Wins Close Game Against France

Team USA Basketball survived another close contest in defeating France in their final game of pool play at the Rio Olympics

For the third straight game, the Team USA Basketball had to outlast a gritty competitor in pool play as Team USA defeated France 100-97.

The performance of Klay Thompson was crucial as the Warriors guard provided a team high 30 points including 7 three-pointers. Throughout the tournament, Thompson has struggled to shoot with the same success that he has had in Golden State.

The fourth quarter provided drama as a 10-2 run by France cut the United States’ once16-point lead down to six. While Team USA relied on both Thompson and Carmelo Anthony down the stretch, the final play involved France making a three-pointer at the buzzer that left the final score in favor of the Americans by just three points.

Shockingly, France out-rebounded the U.S. 35-29 through four quarters. The difference was the efficiency from three-point range. The U.S. shot 37 percent from beyond the arc, while France shot a measly 26 percentage.

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Notably, France was also without San Antonio Spurs star Tony Parker who was resting in anticipation of the elimination round in which the team had already secured a spot.

The biggest criticism now revolves around the focus and defensive mind-set of Team USA. In a game where they seemed poised to pull away with an easy victory against France, they once again had to survive a close game in the fourth quarter.

Prior to the tournament, it was believed that the Rio squad was among the best defensive teams that Coach K had ever led in an Olympics. However, the results since the game against Australia have been less than stellar as the U.S. continues to struggle to close out opponents.

The play of the game came from Kyrie Irving in the fourth quarter. Irving fell attempting a fast-break, however, he spotted Kevin Durant on the way down and was able to throw up the ball for a dunk that Durant finished at the rim.

While the United States has made headlines in Rio with several gold medal victories by names like Michael Phelps, Simone Biles, and Katie Ledecky, the middle of the week cast doubt on the expectations of the Men’s Basketball team.

Indeed, while Team USA celebrated at the aquatic center and gymnastics arena, the favored U.S. Women’s Soccer team fell in a dramatic upset in the quarterfinals against Sweden that left many wondering if the basketball team might also be ripe for an upset.

Coupled with the basketball team surviving tense games against Australia and Serbia, there was the feeling that the team lacked the cohesion necessary to hold off all the international competitors gunning for them.

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Team USA Basketball has now finished pool play undefeated and will go into the quarterfinals as the top seed of the tournament. Their next round opponent will be determined after the round of matches concludes Monday.